Figure toy



Dec. 24, 1929. FRANCE 1,741,103

Filed Dec. 15, 192' INVENTOR Z- E.Fran as ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITE STATES EDWARD E. FRANCE, I-IOLYOKE, COLORADO FIGURE TOY Application filed December 1 This invention relates to toys of the type operated by a spring motor or other motive power.

A primary object of the invention is to pro-- vide a toy in which a plurality of figures, representing any object desired, are so mounted and operated that as one advances into upright position, the other disappears, producing the effect of diving, and which is especialw ly attractive for small children.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy of this character which is cheap, and substantial as well as attractive.

In carrying out these objects, the invention is susceptible of modification without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the claimed invention; there being shown in the drawings for illustrative purposes a preferred and practical form, in which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the toy embodying this invention,

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section thereof taken on the line 22 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section thereof, and,

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the blank from which the casing of the toy is constructed.

In the embodiment illustrated, a casing 1 in so the form of a tank is shown preferably constructed of sheet metal the top 2 of which is formed from a single sheet of metal ano is out along the full lines 3 and bent along the dotted lines 4 to provide plates 5 which de- 3; pend into the casing 1. These plates 5, two of which are shown at each end of the tank or casing 1 provide openings in the top 2 for the mounting of the toys or figures which will be presently more fully described.

These depending plates afiord supports for the shaft by which the figures 10 are carried. This shaft 15 extends longitudinally throughout the length of the casing 1 and is journaled in the end walls of the casing and also passes through the openings 6 in the plates 5. These plates 5 also have other openings 7 and 8 in which are journaled the shafts 16 and 17 which carry the gears or cog wheels 18 and 19 respectively, constituting a portion of the spring motor. As shown clearly in Serial No. 239,763.

Fig. 3, these shafts 16 and 17 are journaled only in the inner plates 5 of the series.

The top 2 of the casing 1 is provided intermediate its ends between the openings produced by cutting out the plates 5 with a transversely extending opening 9 through which )rojects a large gear wheel 20, which is fixed to the shaft 15. This large gear wheel 20 is designed to slowly rotate the shaft 15 and meshes with a cog wheel 18 which in turn meshes with a small gear 19 driven by a gear 21 actuated by the spring 22 carried by a shaft 23 and which is wound by a key 24 projecting through one end of the casing. It will thus be seen that when this spring 22 is wound up in the manner of a clock spring that the gear mechanism will be set in motion and the large gear 20 will slowly rotate the shaft 15 for a purpose now to be described.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 15 are two weights or blocks 11 and 12 which are substantially triangular in cross section having truncated apices extending in opposite directions being so held when the parts are in operative position with the shaft extending therethrough adjacent said truncated portions so that the greater portion or heavier parts of the blocks will tend to move downward and cause the object 10 here shown in the form of a duck carried by the apex thereof to normally move upward since the weight is slightly heavier than the duck and it consequently overbalances it.

The weights 11 and 12 which carry on their truncated apices the ducks 10 and 10 are loosely mounted on the shaft 15 and normally tend to hold the oucks in upright position. Projecting laterally from the inner ends of the blocks 11 and 12 are projections 13 and 14 which are located in the path of lugs or pins 15 and 15 fixed to the shaft and extending radially in opposite directions so that when said shaft rotates these lugs will alternately engage the projections 13 and 14 and operate to carry with them the blocks or weights and turn them and the ducks fixed thereon until the weight passes the dead center when it will drop causing the duck mounted thereon to come to the top, thus giving the appearance of diving. The cooperating lugs and pins on the shaft 15 and the block are arranged to engage as shown in Fig. 3 so that when one of the ducks disappears the other will come up.

It will thus be seen that by winding up the spring motor 22 by means of the key 2%, the shaft 15 will be caused to slowly rotate and thereby operate the ducks carried by the blocks 11 and 12 causing them to dive first one and then the other, down into the tank which will be a source of unending amusement for small children.

While ducks are shown mounted on the blocks, obviously any other objects may be so mounted, the elfect being the same when the shaft is slowly turned under the influence of the intermeshing gears above described.

lVithout further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

I claim 7 1. A toy comprising a casing, a shaft mounted in said; casing and adapted to be ro-. tated, a weighted figure. loosely mounted On saidshaft, the, figure being over-balanced by the weight and thereby normally held in uprightpoised position, and. cooperating means carried by said figure and shaft whereby the weight is raised and moved past the vertical plane through the shaft on the turning of the shaft to cause said. weight to tip and drop quickly down by gravity whereby operating to right the figure and swing it into upright position.

2. A toy comprising a supporting structure, a shaft j ournalled in said structure, figures loosely mounted on said shaft and having overbalancing weights, cooperating lugs carried by said shaft and figures engageable at intervals to raise the weights and move them past the vertical plane through the shaft and cause the figures to move quickly down and then up, and means connected to operate the shaft to cause the engagement of'said lugs whereby the figures are alternately pitched downward and moved upward to represent the act of diving.

Signed at Holyoke, in the county of Phillips and State of Colorado, this 7th day of December, 1927.

EDlVARD E FRANCE. 

